March 2004 Archives
31 March 2004
Add This Guy To The Payroll
Whoever came up with this flash promo in favor of President Bush should be added to the Bush-Cheney 2004 payroll.
Immediately.
Found it at TFG.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/31/04 22:02 | Other | Technorati | Comments (10)
New Feeds
With the recent upgrade to the weblog software here, I've added a couple of new syndication feeds that are now available.
On the right sidebar towards the bottom under the ASSORTED heading, please note new buttons and links for RSS 2.0 and Atom 0.3 feeds (to go with the old RSS 0.91 feed).
They're just the stock skins from Nucleus 2.5 CVS, so I hope nothing is screwed up. They do seem to validate, and validation pleases us.
I'm not really a newsfeed reader myself, but people seem to love 'em, and we try to keep people happy. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/31/04 21:33 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (1)
The Comical And Saint Calvin
Is the Comical's Calvin Murphy coverage going to be a repeat of their embarrassing Enron coverage?
Check out sports columnist John Lopez in today's paper:
When he was pushed out as a Rockets broadcaster by management in 1993, we rallied around this 5-9 giant and demanded he be allowed back behind the microphone. He was.Kind of weird to write all that BS and mention the Parks and Rec program specifically, yet not mention that Murphy was accused (but never convicted) of doctoring his timesheets and effectively taking money for work not performed in that progam. Larry brought this up yesterday:When he dared to say that marching and twirling -- activities that were more foreign to us than ice fishing -- could be just the ounce of prevention this city's underprivileged youth needed, we agreed.
Then-Mayor Bob Lanier named Murphy athletic director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and Lanier spearheaded the effort for more than $450,000 worth of funds to the program.
More than 2,000 of our youth enrolled that first year, and the program continued to thrive.
We gave Murphy our trust. That's what devastates him now.
The bastard was filling out timesheets and being paid by the Parks Department a while back desptie being out of town calling Rockets game. He only got off because Lee P. Brown quashed the investigation before it could ride him out of town on an incomplete rail system.Murphy's done some good things, but let's not turn him into a saint. Or an Enron-style Mensch, for that matter. Stupid Comical.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/31/04 19:54 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)
Sooner Schedule Upgrade
My Sooners have finally managed to cut a deal with Oregon that puts them on the football schedule this fall, and gets rid of Division I-AA Florida A&M.
That completes a significant upgrade pulled off at the last minute, in which Joe Castiglione also replaced Arkansas State with UH, and should ensure that as long as they win, Oklahoma will enjoy the same strength of schedule boost in the BCS as they have in recent years. It may even be better, since 9 of 11 opponents played in bowl games last year.
If you want to contend for championships, I believe you have to schedule aggressively. Are you listening, Bill Snyder?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/31/04 08:33 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (2)
30 March 2004
Houston's Pension Controversy: Part 6
The last post on this topic focused on who knew what and when about the explosion of the unfunded liability in Houston's municipal employees pension fund, and promised a future post on what should be done about the problem.
That post was a bit of a tease.
I'm not an actuary. I don't claim to have any special expertise in municipal finance. I don't have a staff to research financing alternatives.
In short, I have no qualifications to put together a post advising our city on how to handle this budget crunch in any detail. And I'm not going to do that.
But I am going to offer some thoughts on how the White Administration is approaching the problem, and what I think about the most pressing matter (the May 15 opt-out vote).
It's another long post, so click on the [Read More] link if you're interested.
[Read More]Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/30/04 22:58 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)
I'm Glad The Comical Thinks It's Funny
It's one thing for us bloggers to make light of METRO's Danger Train.
It's another thing for the city's major daily newspaper to make light of all the accidents:
Police reports for the first 25 vehicle accidents involving the Metro light rail reveal only one fact for certain: Aries are the safest drivers.That bit of genius was written by someone named Lana Berkowitz, who goes on and on with such nonsense. I'm glad she's so amused by it all. I wonder if there will be so much frivolity at the Comical when the choo choo finally kills someone?The collisions began Nov. 19 although the light-rail system didn't open to the public until Jan. 1. The list keeps growing -- it hit 31 Monday -- but this roundup focuses on the 25 pioneers, a diverse group.
Officers don't ask for drivers' horoscope signs, but a check of birth dates reveals no Aries among the crashers. But it seems Geminis like to drive on the wild side.
There are two Marys and a Maria in the stack of police reports. Also, contrary to water-cooler speculation, there's only one guy with the middle name Wayne. But there's also one named Dwayne, and everyone knows that a Dwayne is worth five Waynes.
A couple of errant drivers pulled out of driveways into the trains and someone ran a red light, but most of the crashes were due to illegal left turns. Repeat: illegal left turns.
Metro spokesman Ken Connaughton definitely sees a pattern: "People aren't paying attention."
Seriously, does anybody edit that awful paper? (rhetorical question, no need to answer)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/30/04 21:07 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (0)
Local Thuggery
A few weeks ago, members of the New Black Panther party alarmed some folks when they went out as election poll watchers at various locations in Houston. I don't have any problem with that, as I've done the poll watching gig in a dicey part of town before, and as long as the rules are obeyed and the election judge keeps good control of things, that's anyone's right under Texas election law.
However, apparently participating in the normal political process is not nearly as much fun as disrupting a council meeting and instigating a brawl:
A normal city council meeting got way out of control Tuesday afternoon. Shouting and shoving erupted and eventually one man was temporarily detained and another sent to the hospital.Some notes on the bolded items:Tuesday afternoons at city council are reserved for the public to speak out about issues they care about in front of elected officials. That's how it all started. Members of the New Black Panther party wanted to bring up the issue of reparations. Things went downhill very fast.
It was an altercation rarely seen inside city hall -- Kofi Taharka dragged out by police after refusing to leave the speakers' podium.
The screaming that began inside city council chambers soon moved into the hallways, as Taharka and other members of the New Black Panther party shoved and shouted with police officers. The afternoon began calmly enough as a group of activists asked the mayor to put the issue of reparations on the council agenda.
"I'm not going to leave the podium until we get a date," insisted Taharka. "If that means I go to jail today, then I'm down with that."
Mayor Bill White promised, "Whoever it is, and whatever the cause, we're not going to set a precedent that citizens come up here and say they won't leave unless we do x, y, z."
Mayor White tried his best to maintain order. But soon, accusations began flying toward the police officers.
One woman yelled, "Why you ain't got the white boys up in here taking them away? This is modern day slavery."
"Our officers wear the blue Houston Police Department uniform, they're very professional," said Chief Harold Hurtt. "All of our officers can respond to any incident within the city of Houston."
But despite the best efforts the scene got out of control. A man involved in the reparation debate said he was hurt by the commotion and was soon carted off by medical technicians, leaving even veteran elected officials surprised.
"It's not usually the way we conduct the public session, but hopefully we'll be able to move on from here," said Houston City Councilmember Carol Alvarado.
Things got back to normal for the rest of the afternoon. The man arrested by police was released a short while later, and no charges will be filed. The man who was hurt is in very good condition at a local hospital, and awaiting x-rays.
Mayor Bill White says he wants council members to discuss the reparation issue but set no specific dates.
1) It's not modern day slavery. That woman is a fool.
2) This was not a "reparation debate" but a brawl.
3) The man arrested by police should not have been released without charges being filed against him.
4) The city has no business taking up the "reparation issue" when it has so many problems that actually need addressing (from the pension funds to the Danger Train to the Flood Tax to budget woes to the crime lab to... well, you get the idea).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/30/04 20:59 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (11)
Around Town
Not so long ago, there was this big divide in bloggery among "personal" bloggers and "political" bloggers (or warbloggers, a term that thankfully is being used less and less all the time). The political bloggers tended to look down on the personal bloggers, and the personal bloggers all tended to get a hearty laugh at the notion that Glenn Reynolds invented weblogging (a pretty laughable notion indeed).
Somewhere along the way, a sort of hybrid emerged (like this blog), where there's a dose of politics and a dose of the personal and a dose of that, and a good strong dose of the local. I still think there's lots of room for more blogging on local topics, ranging from politics to cultural events to music to restaurants. But people are starting to do more of it, and that's useful. Especially in big cities like Houston, where there's always something interesting going on (or something being misreported by the local daily).
Along those lines, here are some interesting blog accounts of "local stuff" (for lack of a better term):
Trivial Pursuits has followed up on the comments to this post (where he lists good Thai spots in Houston) and posts his first restaurant review -- of Ouisie's Table.
Alex Whitlock has an account of last week's Cross Canadian Ragweed show.
Steve Casburn visited the Toyota Center, and comments on the experience.
Greg Wythe details the mechanics of the Senatorial District 17 Democratic Convention
Rob Booth details the mechanics of the Senatorial District 17 Republican Convention.
And there are a number of blogs getting geeked over Astros baseball (Astro in Exile and The Juice Box, along with Astros Daily, which may not consider itself a blog but is close enough for me).
That's a bunch of good reading, and not a bit of it warblogging. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/30/04 20:38 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
29 March 2004
Say It Ain't So, Calvin
KHOU-11 is reporting some distressing news about an iconic Houston sports figure tonight:
Former Houston Rockets star Calvin Murphy was charged Monday with three counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child, all allegations that involve his children, prosecutors said.I've always liked Calvin Murphy, although as a transplant to Houston I know him better from his work as a Rockets commentator than as a player. I hope this is all some sort of misunderstanding.Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said his office has notified other jurisdictions about the charges as an investigation into Murphy continues.
"He has a number of families around the country, according to our research," Rosenthal said.
11 News has learned that allegations are also being investigated in Fort Bend County and Connecticutt.
Murphy’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Murphy, a television analyst for the Houston Rockets, was a star guard for the franchise from 1970 to 1983. The Hall of Fame sharpshooter, who at 5-foot-9 was known as the "Pocket Rocket," shot 89 percent on his free throws during his career and averaged 18 points a game.
The Rockets said in a statement that Murphy asked for and received a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties.
The alleged indecency occurred in Harris County over a period of several years, Rosenthal said. The charges involved children under 17 and the alleged conduct occurred between May 1988 and April 1991, according to the Harris County district clerk’s office.
More coverage from KPRC-2, ABC-13, and the Comical.
(Update) Richard Justice says it's too soon to judge Murphy. Yes and no. There's SOME reason prosecutors think he did what is alleged, but no, he has not yet been found guilty. Still, from their dreadful coverage of the Enron scandal, you can't help but think there are some people at the Comical who would STILL write a column about not judging Enron just yet.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/29/04 18:24 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (6)
Danger Train: Collision #31
Given the frequency with which this keeps happening, I may well have to go in and create a new category for the Danger Train. Here's the latest (from KPRC-2):
METRORail logged its 31st accident Monday when one of its train hit a sport utility vehicle, News2Houston reported.This is what happens when you build a rail line right in the middle of busy streets and don't properly segregate traffic from the beast. I'm convinced it will only be a matter of time before someone is killed, at which point I'm sure the METRO police chief will scold the victim for dying and try to sue the estate for the cost of repairing the choo choo. I've had some fun with this, but it's really getting beyond the point of being funny. I think that point was reached for me when the wheelchair was struck.Officials said the accident happened around 2:45 p.m. when the SUV's driver stopped on the tracks for a red light at Fannin and Binz.
The train hit the passenger's side of the vehicle, spinning it around.
"(The SUV) had a red light. They stopped and ended up stopping actually on the tracks. The train had the right-of-way. The train was not able to stop in time, which caused the collision," said Carl Clark, with METRO Police.
Five people inside the SUV were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. One person received minor injuries, officials said.
No one on the train was hurt, but passengers felt the accident.
"It was just like a big bump. This car come out there and just hit the train, which spun it completely around," said Craig Palmer, a METRORail passenger.
The SUV's driver will be cited for failing to stop at a red light, officials said.
Here is the coverage from the Comical and ABC-13.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/29/04 18:12 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (1)
28 March 2004
Beer Cans? You Don't Say?
Ah, yet another new category of light-rail debacle: traffic that manages to shut down service without actually hitting the train!
KHOU-11 has the best coverage:
That's a shocker.Pedestrians and even two metro police officers were running for their lives in downtown Houston Saturday night.
A pick-up truck flipped at Main and Preston and landed on top of the light rail tracks right next to a station. The truck took out several pedestrian rails.
Witnesses say it was the noise that first attracted their attention.
Nobody was seriously injured.
Police continue to investigate. They found several beer cans inside and near the truck.
KHOU has a cool slideshow on their site. It must be seen to be believed. I'm really not making these rail-related incidents up!
Here's ABC-13's less exciting coverage.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/28/04 23:31 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (0)
Cragg Hines Says We're World Class!
We get a two-for-one from Cragg Hines in the Comical today -- cheerleading for rail as an end in itself and open contempt of Tom DeLay:
In fact, the city also seemed more manageable. Not that mass transit is the sine qua non of urban vibrancy, but name a great city where buses and cars (and the resultant freeways) remain the sole means of self-propulsion. Even Los Angeles gave in. Now, a touch late, Houston has begun to get on the program.Hines's argument for rail comes down to, other cities have it, so we should too. It's a variant of Lee Brown's "World Class" argument, which is devoid of any discussion of costs/benefits (a discussion, as Owen has pointed out repeatedly, doesn't favor Houston rail advocates).Metro light rail seems off to a good start, bar the motorists who want to play a sure-to-lose game of chicken. The only thing that would have improved my ride from downtown to the southern terminus and back would have been Tom DeLay splayed to the front of the train as a figurehead.
I'm sure Hines and apparently his editors think it's cute to conjure up images of Tom DeLay "splayed to the front of the train," since they hate the man, but is it really that hilarious one day after the Danger Train took out a wheelchair, the latest of its 30 collisions? I don't think so.
Tasteless columnist, terrible newspaper.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/28/04 10:37 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (3)
Too Cozy
Sherry Sylvester writes about an interesting and under-reported twist in the Travis County District Attorney's ongoing investigation of 2002 campaign finance issues:
For the past year, the Texas press, including the Houston Chronicle, has vigilantly covered the Travis County district attorney's investigation of possible Republican campaign finance violations in the 2002 elections. Nearly 200 stories have been written in the state's five metropolitan dailies, including more than 20 editorials in support ofThe rest of Sylvester's op-ed is here.
the DA.But when the news broke last week that Austin-American Statesman columnist and reporter Dave McNeely had given the district attorney, Ronnie Earle, a series of pre-publication drafts of a long news analysis piece on the investigation, the story was buried in Saturday's papers.
The Houston Chronicle report did not even name McNeely.
In the state capitol, where the news was local, many were stunned that a veteran journalist had repeatedly invited the prosecutor in charge of investigating state government to comment on a story before it went to press.
But so far, the big Texas papers have failed to link McNeely's ethical breach to the larger story.
Earle's investigation began early last year, originally targeting big players in the Austin lobby. It has since expanded to include the speaker of the Texas House, Tom Craddick, and U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
McNeely's news analysis appeared in the July 20, 2003, issue of the Sunday Insight section of the Austin American-Statesman and connected the theoretical dots between alleged improper business contributions to state legislators and the several GOP leaders.
When four drafts of his story were discovered in Earle's office through an open records request, McNeely insisted he had only wanted to make sure the facts were accurate. But the 3,000-word news analysis McNeely wrote included no technical facts that had not already been reported by his paper and others.
The district attorney is presented positively in the story, and the targets of the investigation, Republicans and businessmen, are presented negatively.
After the drafts were released, McNeely feigned balance, insisting he had verbally checked the facts with the Republicans named in his story.
But I called everyone who was mentioned, and not one person said McNeely had contacted them.
Responding to charges that his investigation is partisan, Earle, a Democrat, recently noted that his résumé includes investigations of people from both political parties. But his investigation record also reveals that, even after extensive research, indictments don't always result from his inquiries.
Sometimes his investigations into wrongdoing by public officials end up producing only high-profile media coverage. If that happens in the case of the Texas Republicans and their associates in business, McNeely's news analysis will have played a key role in trumpeting partisan but unproven charges from the district attorney.
If Earle's targets are indicted, McNeely will have inappropriately aided the investigation.
Many of the Texas reporters and editors I have spoken with this week were flabbergasted by McNeely's decision to show drafts of a news story to a source prior to publication. One editorial page editor told me she did not have a policy against the practice because she couldn't imagine anyone doing it.
Sylvester heads up an organization called Texas Media Watch, which apparently does what the name suggests (I hadn't heard of it before). I enjoyed this one from their recent archives: HOUSTON CHRONICLE QUOTES UNNAMED SOURCE ON CRADDICK'S MOOD. Heh. That's our Comical. I would think it could keep a team of media watchers busy. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/28/04 09:52 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
Why Larry Has The Best Blog In Town
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/28/04 01:03 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
27 March 2004
Drinking And Posting
A nice gentleman has loaned me his wi-fi connected laptop at the Icehouse tonight to say hello to you kind readers.
So, hello.
Who knew we had a connection here? Not me. Rock on.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 22:51 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)
Danger Train: Collision #30
It's taken out cars.
It's taken out pedestrians.
Now the Danger Train has taken out a wheelchair:
We're world class!A MetroRail train struck a Fifth Ward resident in a motorized wheelchair today, causing minor injuries that sent him to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
The northbound train was leaving the McGowen Station at about 2:30 p.m. when the wheelchair rolled out in front of it, said Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Ken Connaughton.
Ruben Holmes of the 4200 block of Quitman initially declined medical attention but later changed his mind and was transported to the hospital, Connaughton said.
The accident remained under investigation today. Connaughton said Holmes, who had just departed a southbound train, "must have not been looking where was going."
The crosswalk at the northern end of McGowen Station does not have a traffic signal.
The incident is the second involving a pedestrian struck by a light rail train in Houston, and the 30th train accident on the Main Street light rail line.
(Update) KTRK-13 elaborates (they call it a scooter):
Callie asks: Is it a wheelchair or a scooter?!METRO police investigated the 30th collision in the young history of light rail.
Near the medical center, Ruban Holmes had just gotten off a southbound train, and he was coming down the passenger ramp. As he set to cross the street, the light changed. The front wheel of his scooter was too near the tracks. A train going northbound hit him.
Holmes went by ambulance to the medical center. That's where he was headed initially. His son died in the hospital last week and Holmes was there to pick up his belongings.
His wife drove his scooter to the emergency room.
We do wonder at this point.
However, the adjective to use is Kafkaesque (best used as a predicate adjective).
(03-28-2004 Update) News24 talks to the man whose wheelchair was clipped. He says he never heard the Danger Train.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 18:31 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (3)
Kroger
I normally like to get free stuff.
But I'm less than excited about my free stuff from Kroger today. On the outside of the package:
From StayfreeThanks, Kroger.2 free samples
Stay clean
Stay fresh
Stayfree!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 16:22 | Other | Technorati | Comments (4)
Maintenance Done
Sorry I took things down for a while earlier.
I needed to upgrade the Nucleus installation that powers the weblog to version 2.5 CVS, which I'm implementing on another project I'm working on (best to test it here before launching it on a real site).
I also wanted to implement some new plugins that are only available to 2.5 beta and higher.
For those who have ever tried to scroll the category archives of a Nucleus site, it's probably been frustrating. Nucleus lists those archives using the same skin as it uses for the front page (which means since my front page only lists the last 20 entries, you only get the last 20 entries per whatever category you choose). You can go back further, but only by clicking on the chronological archive dates once you're inside the category archive. While that in itself is much more powerful than anything you can do with static-page systems such as Movable Type, that's not really utilizing the full (dynamic) power of php/mySQL. Thanks to a Nucleus developer, there's now a set of plugins that allow one to go back or forward by X number of posts, to the very beginning or the very end of the weblog (by category, or by all posts). That's pretty slick! If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you'll see the new [Previous 20 Entries] link. If you click on a category, you'll see the same thing at the bottom of the page that's generated. If you click in, it will then generate previous/next X entries links as appropriate. Like I said, slick. The future is dynamic. :)
Another plugin I implemented is Comment Control, which allows for moderation of comments older than a certain number of days. I haven't been hit with the comment spam that a lot of MT users have been victimized by (one suspects because Nucleus is a much lesser known CMS), but it's probably just a matter of time. Fortunately, this is a handy little tool to combat that practice, and it's far more appealing to me than using the Trotts' little centralized commenter identification system. I don't want to make you users do that, because (like this guy) I don't think it's necessary, and I don't especially appreciate the way the Trotts have enforced their terms of use in the past. I will probably moderate older entries by default, but I don't plan on doing that for newer ones at this point, spammers or no.
Anyway, please let me know if anything seems broken. One of the benefits to using CVS versions is that they're cutting edge. One of the dangers is that things can sometimes be buggy. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 15:37 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (4)
Not My Idea Of A Dream Job
Kelvin Sampson's assistant Jimmy Tubbs sounds pleased to have gotten the SMU job:
I'm back," said Tubbs, who spent the last two seasons as an Oklahoma assistant. "Back home. This is the job I always wanted. My dream job has always been Southern Methodist University.Recent history would suggest otherwise, but I certainly hope he's right. The departure of some of the best basketball schools from C-USA means that the conference needs better basketball from SMU than it's played in a while, and better basketball from Tulsa than it's played this season. Not to mention better basketball from Houston, which hasn't played very well for about 20 years now."I didn't take this job to win 50 games in two years and pick up and leave. We're going to win, and if Duke calls, it will be, 'No thanks.' "
Tubbs, a native of the Dallas area, spent 12 years as an SMU assistant before moving to Oklahoma. He is noted as being a solid recruiter with a connection to Texas high school coaches.
"I know one thing: He will work his butt off for them," said Colorado assistant Paul Graham, Tubbs' best friend since the two coached together at Dallas' Kimball High. "He is perfect for them."
Tubbs was one of 14 candidates interviewed by SMU athletic director Jim Copeland. Five candidates, including Kansas assistant Norm Roberts, were brought to campus for visits.
"In my mind, I kept coming back to Jimmy Tubbs," Copeland said of the interview process. "He became the standard that I judged other people against."
Tubbs has already set a high standard for himself.
"We will win, and we will win big. I guarantee that," he said.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 11:22 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
Unpopular Movies
This is kind of an interesting writeup of the Least Popular Movies of the Last Fifteen Years.
I found it at Tom McMahon's place.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 10:55 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Danger!
There's a fun letter in the Comical today:
The automobile and MetroRail collisions are now numerous.Ha, I love it! But that wouldn't be world class, and we are world class, dangit!Has anyone considered that the drab, gray finish on the train cars may be a contributing cause?
If the Metropolitan Transit Authority would paint the trains a bright, fluorescent orange, we could all watch the accident rate drop off.
Besides, instead of orange, I would prefer yellow, with some of these plastered on the thing. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 10:15 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (0)
(Rare) Props For The Comical
This is really good coverage of what transpired at Cougar Field last night (unfortunately, another loss).
Rayner doesn't sound very happy with his hitters:
"Our guys have got to go to home plate with an aggressive attitude," UH coach Rayner Noble said. "I don't see us looking for any specific pitch -- and then when we get it -- driving it. I think that's the difference with what I see in our guys right now."They sure wasted a lot of opportunities to score. But Rayner had a lot of freshmen in the lineup last night, and that's probably to be expected. Unfortunately, the record is such that unless there's a miraculous turnaround, the NCAA tourney's just a pipe dream, and this is turning into a "rebuilding" season. Getting these guys some experience now should pay dividends next year, especially in the case of the young pitchers. I'm hoping freshmen Shea Hancock and Brad Lincoln start the rest of the weekend. I don't see any reason not to go with the future at this point. In Hancock's case, he's established himself as one of the better pitchers on this team anyway.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/27/04 09:33 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
26 March 2004
How About That?
Rob Booth's bidness got a nice plug on News 24. That's proof that News 24 is good for something.
I went to a similar place on West Gray several years ago. I think our group may be banned from ever visiting such an establishment again. Rob and crew might want to reconsider offering beer/wine. Or they might just want to ban certain unruly characters. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/26/04 22:05 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Ricky Gets Upset
Apparently, I missed Texas coach Ricky Barnes get himself tossed while I was watching UH lose another heartbreaker tonight:
Texas coach Rick Barnes got two technicals from referee Ted Valentine with 3.9 seconds left and was thrown out of the game. Barnes stopped by the Xavier bench and shook hands with coach Thad Matta on his way to the locker room.What the report doesn't say is that he got tossed with Texas only losing by three, and still with a shot at tying the game. Nice job, Ricky.
It's always a good day when things go badly for the burnt orange.
(03-27-2004 Update) Kevin Blackistone offers similar criticism:
But down three points with four ticks left, Barnes, as mild-mannered a basketball coach as can be found in the heat of the moment, did something to inspire referee Ted Valentine's ire. After P.J. Tucker fouled Dedrick Finn, Barnes was hit with two technical fouls and sent to the locker room.His conclusion, however, is that the Longhorns were just inexplicably outplayed by a team they should have beaten. Maybe that explains Barnes's frustration at the end.Sato converted three of four technical free throws, and Finn made two more. The Musketeers advanced to the Elite Eight with a 79-71 win.
It wasn't likely that Finn would've missed both free throws. But stranger things have occurred in college basketball at this time of year. Had nerves gotten the best of Finn, the Longhorns would've had a chance for a miracle shot to send the game into overtime. They didn't.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/26/04 21:43 | Other | Technorati | Comments (8)
We Love March In Houston
I can already tell this is going to be one of those weekends in Houston where there's just not enough time to do everything.
There's the Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park, which is always a good time.
There's a Home Tour over in Kuffner's part of town, and he has the details.
There's UH Cougar baseball, where I'm headed momentarily.
And frequent commenter Gary C points out that Wayne the Train Hancock is playing on Saturday.
I'm sure there's plenty more. It's really hard to beat March in Houston.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/26/04 17:53 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
Strange
Some of you have surely noticed that Mozilla Firefox will sometimes misdraw the far left blue line on this blog (here's a screenshot of the problem). If you scroll down, it will magically appear. This doesn't happen all the time, and it doesn't happen with I.E. I didn't think it happened with Mozilla 1.x early on, but in my tests today with the latest version it does.
I've had no answer for it. The design isn't "broken" and I don't think Mozilla Firefox started having problems until v 0.8. Anyway, it somehow seems related to the silly sitemeter graphic/script that I added a while back for convenience. I've killed that, and everything seems fine. So I guess I will leave things that way. It looks bad for me to push the Mozilla Firefox browser as hard as I do, and for it to break my site design. :)
If any of you webheads have any thoughts as to why Sitemeter might have been screwing things up for me, please do share. :)
(03-27-2004 Update) Relocating the sitemeter graphic seems to have helped. I have no idea why that is the case.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/26/04 16:57 | Web Stuff | Technorati | Comments (0)
The Triumphant Return Of Lee Brown's Water Tax
Lee Pothole Brown may be gone, but his water tax lives on:
Mayor Bill White's plan to deal with Houston's chronic flooding problem will include an average 9 percent increase in water and sewer rates, sources close to the administration told the Houston Chronicle.So much for the "conservative" bloc on council looking out for taxpayers, eh?The increase, expected to take effect within the next few months, would be the city's first increase in those rates in more than a decade.
White, who will unveil his proposal today, also wants to fund $150 million in drainage improvements over the next three years by restructuring and refinancing debt in the water and sewer system, the sources said.
The mayor's plan -- which he has called a "bold" approach -- is not radically different from that of his predecessor, Lee Brown, and may actually cost some taxpayers more than the drainage fee that Brown proposed unsuccessfully last fall.
White, however, has managed to smooth the path for his proposal by getting City Council members to buy into it early. He has met with several council members in the past few days but asked them not to reveal details until after his announcement today.
"I'm on board with it," said Councilman Mark Ellis, who devised the debt restructuring plan last year. "I believe it's a good plan. It's not that much different than what I proposed to the Brown administration a year ago.
There are some notable differences in this mayor and the last one. One, he does appear to be a better manager of city affairs. And two, he appears to be much more adept politically (witness his bringing conservatives on board for what is effectively going to be a big water tax, and revving up the KSEV crowd for his eventual plan to rescind pension promises made to municipal employees) -- which may not be such good news for taxpayers. In this case, the promise that further increases will come in future years is particularly ominous.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/26/04 11:26 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
25 March 2004
It's A 90s Thing
There will apparently be a new volume of the You Don't Know Jack game.
I loved the original versions, but it sounds like maybe they should have left well enough alone.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 21:30 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Spader
Today's Comical features this article on James Spader, who will be heading up a semi-new TV series this fall.
I say semi-new because he's been the only reason to watch ABC's recently unwatchable The Practice this season. Apparently, the producers feel the same way, and are ditching the dead weight and keeping Spader. At least one hopes that's what they're doing.
Incidentally, the episode introducing William Shatner as the overacting lawyer Denny Crane was hilarious. Too perfect. There is apparently an option for Shatner to return to the semi-new series, whatever it's going to be called.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 21:17 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Music Articles of Note
The American Statesman runs this article on Alejandro Escovedo, who recently played at SXSW and seems to be making headway against Hep C.
and
The New Yorker runs this article on a new biography about Woody Guthrie.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 21:11 | Music | Technorati | Comments (1)
Imagined Conversation
You just have to wonder Lee Pothole Brown and friends came up with the brilliant idea to put a rail line right down the middle of a busy street.
How would that conversation have gone?
METRO Board Member 1: We have some of the worst drivers in the country. Clueless drivers. Dangerous, too.We're world class!METRO Board Member 2: Yes we do. Maybe we should elevate the track and isolate the trains from those dangerous drivers.
Lee Pothole Brown: I have an idea. Let's lay the track right down Main, put up a bunch of confusing signals, and disallow established driving patterns on that street.
METRO Board Members (unanimously): Yeah, what a great idea!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 20:58 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (1)
Justice Cuban, Anyone?
Kuffner points out that Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, actually has a blog.
I agree with Kuffner that it's good. Surprisingly good. Even the name is good (Blog Maverick). Comments and Trackback would make it better, of course.
Anyway, it seems that when it comes to basketball rules, Cuban has the quaint notion that the rules should be enforced as written, and that officials should not make it up as they go along.
No "living rulebook" for Mark Cuban, by gawd!
He actually sounds like a decent replacement for that batty Sandra Day O'Connor to me. Does W read sports weblogs? :)
(03-27-2004) Here are some further thoughts on the Cuban weblog over at Inluminent. I think there's definitely a niche for sports blogs and local blogs. Indeed, the Comical's woeful coverage in both areas convinces me of it. Yet everyone seems more inclined to try to be Glenn Reynolds. Politics is overdone.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 20:39 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
Sentiments Of An Inner Loopster
Cross Canadian Ragweed is playing out in Katy tonight.
I really should get myself in gear and go out there.
But Katy is so far away. Blar.
(03-26-2004 Update). I definitely should have gone. Alex has the details. They put on a long show, and they had Stoney Larue open for them (which I did not know would be the case). Unfortunately, as Alex points out, they didn't do two favorites of mine (Alabama and 17), so that would have been disappointing. And honestly, I don't think I had 2 am in me last night. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/04 20:32 | Music | Technorati | Comments (6)
24 March 2004
Austin Music Awards
The Austin Chronicle has published its annual music awards.
I was happy to see the Dead End Angels place in a number of categories.
But no getting the big head now, guys. There IS more to Texas than the People's Republic of Austin, and we wouldn't mind seeing ya in the rest of the state, ya know?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/24/04 20:22 | Music | Technorati | Comments (2)
Danger Train Bingo!
The Houston Press has printed a great little game: Danger Train Bingo!
Okay, they call it Metro Bingo, but we prefer Danger Train Bingo.
It's a PDF file, so you can print the thing and play at home. Click here to download it.
We're World Class!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/24/04 18:40 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (1)
It Makes The Story Sound Better, So Why Not Print It?
Rob Booth wants to know if anyone at the Comical actually has quotes to back up the paraphrase they printed a few days ago regarding Representative Culberson and the rail vote.
I'd like to know as well. I would email the Comical's reader representative James T. Campbell, but he's never bothered to answer the few I've sent in the past, so I'm not going to bother this time.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/24/04 18:36 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
Ouch
I'm always happy when spring football practices start. Given the holes that my Sooners have to fill on the defensive side of things for next season, I'm even more interested in the news coverage.
Here's something that caught my eye this morning, however:
Backups Paul Thompson and Tommy Grady took most of the snaps at quarterback as White eased his way back from a busy offseason.There's no doubt the last two games of the season, White's play dropped off. The Sooner staff was too classy to talk about his injuries, because they didn't want to look like whiners explaining away two losses (and those losses, frankly, did revolve around much more than White's injuries). But in addition to the problems posed by two tenacious defenses (Kansas State and LSU), White also was not 100% by the end. I'm not making excuses for the losses, and I generally do believe in the maxim that if a player and his coaches agree the guy can start the game, then the injury excuse really should not be employed. But so many people have suggested that White's winning the Heisman was fraudulent despite his stellar play over most of the season that I wanted to toss this out there.Coaches have said they were concerned about overworking White, now a sixth-year senior, who is returning from an offseason knee surgery and a wrist surgery that required a cast.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/24/04 16:02 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (3)
Danger Train: Collision #29
After a lull (a few days without an accident), the Danger Train is now on a roll, with Collision #29 coming earlier today:
We're world class!A Houston woman was ticketed after she disregarded railroad crossing arms and struck a MetroRail train near the Texas Medical Center today, authorities said.
No one was injured when the accident happened about 9 a.m. on Greenbriar near Braeswood, Metro officials said.
Kimberly Pounds was driving north on Greenbriar when she proceeded past the railroad crossing arms as they were lowering, said Metro spokesman Ken Connaughton. After driving underneath the crossing arms, she stopped for a northbound train that was passing by, Connaughton said. Pounds then proceeded and hit a second train that was heading south, he said.
Pounds was ticketed for disregarding the crossing arm, Metro officials said. The trains continued on their normal routes after the collision.
It was the 29th traffic accident recorded for the city's light rail system.
Here is KPRC-2's coverage.
(Update) Larry Simon and commenters chime in.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/24/04 14:50 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (0)
23 March 2004
Danger Train: Collision #28
The latest Danger Train collision (#28 for those of you keeping score) has kind of a bizarre twist:
Of course, it would help if the driver were actually located.There's been yet another accident involving the light rail, but this one may involve alcohol as well.
The accident occurred on Fannin at Holcombe near the Medical Center just after 5pm Tuesday. When METRO police arrived on the scene, they discovered a maroon SUV had been hit on the driver's side. They say the SUV driver was making an illegal left turn, causing the accident.
Apparently the female driver and her three children fled the scene of the accident. Police did find alcohol in the SUV.
The three kids, ages 3 to 13, were located nearby about half an hour after the accident. The driver remains missing.
No injuries were reported. There's no word yet if the driver could face any charges.
Drinking, driving with your children, getting hit by the Danger Train after an illegal turn, and fleeing the scene leaving your children behind.
I think that rail-related story tops the guy who took his truck swimming in the fountains.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/23/04 21:20 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (2)
The Rest Of The Story (That The Comical Missed)
Here's another example of the Comical's sloppy sports journalism, courtesy of columnist Neal Hohlfeld:
Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione announced Monday that offensive linemen Geoff Hangartner and Cole Smith have been suspended indefinitely. Hangartner and Smith were arrested in College Station March 15 on alcohol-related charges.The curious reader of course is left wondering, a multicultural course? Huh? Why?Hangartner, who will be a senior next season, was charged with driving while intoxicated. Smith, who will be a junior, was charged with public intoxication.
The pair was arrested after an incident at a fast-food restaurant in which police and witnesses claimed someone in a car in which both players were sitting yelled at people in another car.
Hangartner has started the last two seasons at center; Smith was a reserve who played in one game last season. The players met with their teammates Sunday.
"After meeting with these two young men, and consulting our football team and the coaching staff, I have suspended Geoff Hangartner and Cole Smith from participating in any football-related activities," Franchione said. .
"These young men have to meet several criteria to be considered back on the squad. First and foremost, they had to address their actions in front of their teammates. They will have to serve 24 hours of community service, preferably with youth and concerning drinking and driving and underage drinking. They will have to attend a multi-cultural course and will also have to attend an alcohol-awareness program.
That would be because the players in question allegedly got drunk and were yelling racial epithets at the "people in another car."
Readers of the Comical and Neal Hohlfeld are just left wondering why the coach would require a "multi-cultural course" (which sounds retarded -- but then again, it's "Coach Fran" we're talking about). Readers of this weblog, of course, already knew the rest of the story.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/23/04 21:10 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)
Danger Train: Collision #27
The Danger Train suffered its 27th accident yesterday.
The news is tucked away in the Comical:
A motorist suffered minor injuries Monday when her vehicle struck a MetroRail train, the 27th traffic accident involving the city's light rail system.Oops.Kim Pham was cited by Metro police for failing to stop for the railroad gate at Main and Wheeler about 9:30 a.m. Officials said her vehicle scratched the train after she drove onto the tracks.
Pham was treated at Christus St. Joseph Hospital.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/23/04 08:17 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (0)
Can Lopez Join Robertson And Blinebury?
The next positive article about UH athletics that John Lopez writes for the Comical may well be his first.
Seriously, if he doesn't like the Tom Penders hire, that's one thing.
But to suggest that John Lucas, David Rose, or Josh Pastner were demonstrably better candidates is just silly. Their records don't suggest any such thing. John Lucas has never won anywhere, and UH certainly doesn't need another Clyde Drexler experience. David Rose is a Coog and seems like a nice guy, but has never been a head coach at a D1 program. Josh Pastner may have a brilliant future, but he's a little-known twentysomething assistant.
Penders built a football school into a perennial basketball power, made numerous NCAA trips, and won a lot of games. Furthermore, there's some question whether the UT "baggage" everyone talks about belonged to Penders or to DeLoss Dodds.
Frankly, going into this search, I thought UH might well have to settle for an unknown (like Briles in football, which has thankfully worked out well) and hope for the best. Instead, they got an accomplished D1 winner who's done it before in this state. He may not work out, but the hire is not silly, and those other three candidates weren't necessarily better.
But that's not the sort of column Lopez ever writes about UH athletics.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/23/04 07:53 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
22 March 2004
It Seems To Be Done
Local sports media are reporting that UH has called a 5 pm press conference tomorrow to announce Tom Penders as head coach.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/22/04 22:29 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
Heard in Traffic
An exchange I heard on the way home from the gym:
No doubt!Dan Patrick: Is there one columnist over there [at the Chronicle] who represents the Right, the conservative point of view?
Rick (Hotshot) Casey: I don't really want to get into that.
(03-23-2004 Update) Alex elaborates on this topic.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/22/04 16:43 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (4)
21 March 2004
Penders To UH?
It's the worst-kept secret in town: Tom Penders will apparently be offered the UH head coaching job.
If it goes down, I'm happy enough with it. UH couldn't have expected to land a coach of Penders's caliber heading into this job search, and will be fortunate to have him. He's not perfect, but this program doesn't have a million bucks to hire a perfect candidate. We just have to hope that he has one more major rebuilding project left in him.
I have to admit that I liked his style at Texas, even though burnt orange on basketball jerseys, like any other uniform, makes me want to puke. :) Even though Dave Maggard denies it, I can't help but think this deal is done. I'm looking forward to an announcement tomorrow.
(03-22-2004 Update) The Comical has revised its story, which initially said Penders had already been offered the job. I still expect a deal to get done, but we shall see.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/21/04 23:16 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
Will Cragg Be Fair And Balanced?
The Comical's Cragg Hines slobbers on and on today about Justice Scalia's refusal to recuse himself from a case involving the office of the Vice President.
Local blogger Beldar has somewhat of a different take on the topic, and I'm admittedly partial to his view.
Just for the sake of consistency and fairness, though, I wonder if Cragg Hines will write a column next Sunday condemning Justice Ginsburg for not recusing herself from certain types of cases?
I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/21/04 23:10 | Other | Technorati | Comments (2)
Houston's Pension Controversy: Part 5
I haven't commented on Houston's pension plan controversy lately, even though I've been promising to do so, because I've just sort of been soaking in the news coverage since my last post on the topic. Unfortunately, the local news outlets have been more of a cheerleader for Mayor White's efforts to opt out of Proposition 15 than a very objective source of information on 1) how we came to be in this mess and 2) the range of options available to the city to fix the problem. I'll start with what we know at this point about how we got here. Unlike some folks in town, I actually believe that it would be useful to know how we got here before we decide what needs to be done next.
This is a long post, so click on the [Read More] link for the rest.
[Read More]Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/21/04 22:51 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
20 March 2004
Danger
We decided to stay in town and just spent much of the afternoon walking the museum district. We just survived my first trip on the Danger Train to downtown, where we are now at Kaveh Kanes wirelessly posting this via the Tungsten. Too cool.
It will shortly be time to move on to La Carafe for a colder brew.
What a beautiful day.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/20/04 16:34 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (3)
Soul Gravy
I got my limited edition version of Cross Canadian's new release Soul Gravy on Friday, and have to say I'm enjoying it.
I'm not going to get into the whole debate over whether it's southern rock or roots rock or red dirt or what have you. That's silliness. It's Cross Canadian Ragweed, and if you like their previous work, you're gonna like this one. That's not to say it's a repeat of previous efforts, because it's not. Personally, I hear a little more of a Texas influence on this one, and can point to one or two tracks that I could hear their buddies Reckless Kelly doing
My favorite CD of theirs is still their self-released Highway 377, but both of their major label releases (Purple and this one) are top notch. I'm pleased to see that Universal South hasn't messed with their sound, and hasn't changed up producers on them (they're still using Mike McClure, who knows what this band is about more than any "big label" producer they might have chosen). Thank gawd they're not trying to turn this band into Hootie.
The best news is, there seems to be a market for this stuff. They debuted at #51 on the Billboard charts, which is pretty unusual for an alt-country act (let alone a red dirt band from Oklahoma). Good for them. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys or a better group of musicians.
You Ragweed fans ought to be sure and pick up the limited edition package linked above, which has a bonus DVD -- a live Ragweed show taped in College Station that's really well done, and also features appearances by Randy Rogers, Bleu Edmonson, Wade Bowen, Jason Boland, and Stoney Larue. Randy's verse on "Boys from Oklahoma" is hilarious. That's your teaser. Go buy! :)
(Update) Incidentally, the boys from Oklahoma debuted at #5 on the Billboard Country charts. There may be hope yet for country music.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/20/04 11:27 | Music | Technorati | Comments (1)
More Indecision
The indecision has carried over from last night.
Last week, I tentatively made some plans with friends to catch a show at Saengerhalle tonight.
They need to tend to some other things, and I'm now tempted to go wandering the neighborhood and catch some sun (and maybe a few brews) again on what is a gorgeous spring day in Houston (shorts weather, woo hoo!) instead of making the roadtrip.
Oh, and today's indecision is not just a ploy to get chicks to tell me I'm cute. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/20/04 10:26 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)
19 March 2004
Kev The Grouch
I'll never front a band, but if I did, I would never play a wedding for someone.
Because I think the reasoning is probably something along the lines of, if you take their money, then you're obligated to accommodate annoying sh!t like this.
Don't get me wrong -- Willie is great and all. It's not like it's someone requesting Kenny Chesney.
But why sign up an original Americana band to come play your special event, and then insist they play tired covers?
Some people JUST DON'T EFFING GET IT.
Oh, and I obviously did not make it to Randy Rogers tonight. The Firehouse was just way too packed, and I can't handle the smoke and crowd given the LONG week I've just had (and the sleep deficit and the grouchiness). So it goes.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/19/04 22:44 | Music | Technorati | Comments (1)
Decisions, Decisions
I really should make it out to Randy Rogers at the Firehouse tonight.
But it's been a long week, I'm tired, and I can't stand the opening act.
I'm thinking a trip for Italian food is in order first, then maybe music. Or maybe not.
Gee, I'm so decisive tonight.
Those of you considering Thai food in Houston might want to consult the handy info here. :)
(Update) I didn't make it. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/19/04 19:09 | Other | Technorati | Comments (2)
Actually, I'm All For More Prison Units
Here's some bothersome news from Austin (link via Kuffner):
A tight state budget and new technology are triggering second thoughts among state officials about whether a decadelong push for new prisons is proving too costly and whether Texas instead should invest in alternatives to prison.That's surely what we need. Because Texas taxpayers will most certainly be happier if more violent criminals are released on the GPS Honor System.The latest indication: A Wednesday hearing at which key lawmakers suggested that corrections officials might consider releasing some offenders early from parole and look at placing new emphasis on probation and rehabilitation to keep thousands of people from going to prison.
"I don't think there's anyone in the state of Texas now who thinks that the smart thing to do is build thousands of more prison units," said House Corrections Committee Chairman Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie. "We need to have a better-funded system of probation."
I just love it when Republicans start to sound like liberals on crime and punishment. There will be none of that here. Or here.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/19/04 19:05 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
How Did I Miss This?
I've been wondering why Richard Justice seems to be all over the Comical lately.
If this post at CoogFans.com is true, apparently Justice has been promoted to columnist, while Dale Robertson and Fran Blinebury have been demoted to... something less than that (beat assignments?).
I suppose it's progress at the Comical that one mediocrity replaces two mediocrities, but it still ensures a steady flow of the same.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/19/04 09:32 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)
Hotshot - Cont'd
I'll ask again -- why did the Comical bring Hotshot in to do a local column, when he seems to prefer to write articles about San Antonio (his last stop) that only have a tangential relation to this area?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/19/04 08:24 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
18 March 2004
Things We Missed
I'm back in Houston after a quick trip to Oklahoma. Thanks for everyone who left nice comments while I was away!
I haven't even begun to catch up on the international news I didn't read while I was away, but as things go locally, I can't let these things I missed go by without comment:
The Danger Train has now taken out a pedestrian (more coverage from: ABC-13, KHOU-11, News24). I have to admit to being unprepared in a terminological sense for this. Should this be categorized as Danger Train Collision #26, or should some new category be created for pedestrians? I just know it's going to happen again. How do I know? Read this:
Back at the intersection of Fannin and Reliant Parkway, five Metro police officers wearing bright vests directed cars and people an hour after the pedestrian walked into the train. MetroRail continued serving Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo events at Reliant Park from both directions but trains slowed about a block away and rolled in at a speed appearing to be slower than 10 mph.The tales of Houstonians and the Danger Choo Choo are reaching Kafkaesque levels. Reader input on the terminological issue would be much appreciated.A dozen reporters stood near the intersection as people got on and off the trains. Most arriving passengers were unaware what had happened. They questioned police as they passed, but the officers flagged them onward. The cops were busy yelling at several pedestrians and drivers to get off the train tracks.
On a related note, this has to be the coolest flash animation with a Houston theme that I've ever seen. My compliments to the Comical. I wouldn't have guessed they had it in them.
Kenny Chesney drew the biggest crowd in the history of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. You dumbasses who contributed to this dubious record should be ashamed of your retarded selves.
The Texaco star will soon be returning to gas stations. Industry studies have shown that customers have unusual loyalty to that brand, to the point of being willing to pay more for gas at Texaco stations. Why Shell, which held exclusive rights to that brand, rebranded so many stations to its less preferred name and trademark makes less sense to me. I thought these guys were in business to make money? Anyway, count me as one of those Texaco star fans. I'm glad it's coming back.
The baseball Coogs beat #3 Rice, putting together probably their best game of the season in the process. It's the second home game against a ranked opponent that I have missed this season. The Coogs have won both. If this continues, I may have to take one for the team and get rid of my season tickets. :)
That's all I have for now. More serious stuff to follow at some point.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/18/04 18:58 | Other | Technorati | Comments (11)
16 March 2004
Hiatus
I'm going away for a couple of days for a funeral (for my uncle).
I probably won't be doing any posting, but I'll have the Tungsten with me and occasional wi-fi access, so who knows?
I had hoped to line up a guest blogger to, you know, make the place more interesting than it normally is, but no go this time (unless he reads this at some point and feels like jumping on in).
Anyway, I should be back and posting by Friday at the latest, and should finally get around to commenting on last week's op-ed from the director of the municipal employees pension board, Mayor Pothole's letter, Carroll Robinson's op-ed, and an email that Mayor White sent out to municipal employees -- all on our favorite local topic, the pension controversy. Some of you are probably going to be surprised where I wind up on the whole deal (gotta have a teaser to get you back).
See ya on the other side.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/16/04 17:10 | Other | Technorati | Comments (8)
Another Mess For Coach Fran
All those A&M fans who engineered the firing of the most successful coach in their history so they could hire Coach Fran to take them to the next level instead seem to have hired a very expensive babysitter:
Two Texas A&M football players have been charged with alcohol-related crimes after they shouted racial slurs outside a fast food restaurant.And probably another dreadful season.Police, who were called to the restaurant to investigate, followed a sport utility vehicle driven by A&M football player Geoff Hangartner from the restaurant early Monday to a nearby home where Hangartner failed a field sobriety test, The Bryan-College Station Eagle reported in Tuesday's editions.
Hangartner was charged with driving while intoxicated. His passenger and teammate, Cole Smith, was cited for public intoxication, according to the newspaper.
Coach Dennis Franchione said the charges against his players are unsettling. Nine members of the 2003 football team have been arrested since September, the newspaper reported.
Franchione said he has stressed accountability to his athletes.
"As many conversations as I have had with our team, I am very disappointed to learn of these events," he said in a statement. "These young men understand they will face stern consequences."
How long before Coach Fran moves on to his next "dream job," without even stopping to say goodbye to his players?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/16/04 15:06 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (1)
East Bound And Down
This isn't really funny, but laughing beats crying, right?
Houston police investigated an accident involving two of their own near downtown Houston Monday night.It's kind of like Smokey and the Bandit.The vehicles of two officers collided en route to a shooting call on Tuam at Chenevert around 9 p.m.
Police said one of the officers ran a stop sign at the intersection.
The other patrol car hit a home at the corner of the intersection, causing minor damage, according to an investigation.
Our public vehicles sure do a lot of damage in this city.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/16/04 10:10 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)
15 March 2004
Danger Train: Collision #25?
The Danger Train suffered another collision with traffic today.
Only KHOU-11 is reporting the accident at the moment. I put the question mark after the wreck count above because it's been quiet for a while, and the last time it was so quiet, it turned out that a number of accidents had gone unreported by our crack local media (although METRO had the numbers).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/15/04 18:04 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (3)
That's Our Comical - Cont'd
Is this really the best that "hotshot" Comical columnist Rick Casey can do?
Umm, okay, Rick. Shots at Rick Perry AND Dan Patrick. Come to think of it, that may be more "local" reporting than you've done since you "moved" here. I put those in parentheses because I wonder if anyone has ever actually seen this guy. :)If we're lucky, in two years Perry will have a new career, on radio.
I can't help but wonder why the Comical bothered to replace Thom Marshall with Casey (and no doubt increased payroll to do so). The quality of reporting sure hasn't improved, and the quality of the writing has actually declined.
I never would have thought I would write such a thing.
Incidentally, our new name for Casey is just going to be Hotshot. It seems appropriate.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/15/04 17:56 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)
14 March 2004
Soul Gravy
The Comical reprints a review of Cross Canadian Ragweed's new CD Soul Gravy from the Detroit Free Press today.
I haven't picked up the new disc yet, but the reviewer seems to like it.
He calls their sound Southern Rock, which I wouldn't really do, and he makes no reference to Red Dirt, which I probably would do. But I guess a good word is a good word, right?
Of course, you would think that a band as popular as Ragweed is in Texas (and their native Oklahoma) would merit a review in the Comical from someone, say, who actually lives in Texas and is familiar with the Texas alt-country music scene, but that's asking too much of our pitiful little paper, I suppose. I might have hoped, however, that the paper could do better than copy a Detroit Free Press review that seems a lot like this Billboard review.
(03-15-2004 Update) Here's a review of the CD written by a Texan (in the American-Statesman).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/14/04 15:48 | Music | Technorati | Comments (2)
13 March 2004
Chad Hutchinson, Part Two?
I really do not understand this move.
Generally, I'm of the opinion "In Bill We Trust."
But this one is just a puzzle to me.
The Cowboys desperately need a running back and some offensive linemen. Instead, they add another failed baseball player. Whatever.
(Update) For the record, I was always critical of the Texans for using a pick on Henson, because I didn't think they'd actually get anyone to part with a first-day draft pick. I was obviously wrong about that. Good move Texans. Time will tell on the Cowboys side.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/13/04 09:56 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (1)
Aussies
After spending a significant amount of time with one of my bosses tonight, I've come to the conclusion that Texans and Aussies are very much alike.
That is all.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/13/04 01:12 | Other | Technorati | Comments (3)
12 March 2004
Jeep!
I just got my latest Jeep owners' magazine, which is very cool.
It's nice that some American automakers understand that such things shouldn't be viewed as costs, but rather as a (relatively) cheap way to build brand loyalty.
Now if I could just convince Callie that she should replace that Cobra with a four-wheel-drive Wrangler Rubicon.... :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/12/04 16:45 | Other | Technorati | Comments (6)
11 March 2004
Danger Train: Collision #24
The Danger Train suffered its 24th collision last night:
Heh. That's too much. KPRC-2 points out that Danger Train Collision #1 took place at the same intersection:A safety study on light rail was complete Wednesday night. The results won't be released until Thursday on how to cut down on the number of crashes.
Houston has had more accidents in just a couple of months than other cities have in an entire year.
The latest wreck was just Wednesday night. And it was another illegal left turn in front of a train, this time at Main and Gray. Ironically, the driver of the pickup and his passenger were on their way downtown to catch a train to the rodeo.
Results from a new study are expected Thursday on what METRO can do to make the light rail safer. The release comes after the train system encountered its 24th accident in four months Wednesday night.I guess at KPRC-2, they really do believe that if you can't find any news, make some. :)Police said a pickup truck made an illegal left-hand turn, causing it to collide with an oncoming train at Main and Gray at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday. Both vehicles were traveling north when the accident happened.
The driver was cited for making the illegal turn and for not having automobile insurance.
METRO officials said none of the 20 passengers on board the train were injured in the accident.
The collision caused major damage to the pickup truck and ripped off the train's fender.
The light-rail system's first accident happened at the same location on Nov. 19, 2003. News2Houston's Krista Marina was cited for making an illegal left turn. She was not injured in that accident.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/11/04 08:47 | Danger Train | Technorati | Comments (1)
10 March 2004
The Mack Brown BS Filter
It's spring practice time in Austin, so that can only mean one thing: it's time to turn on your Mack Brown BS Filters.
Here's the latest from Mackland:
AUSTIN – After watching USC and LSU win national titles this season with defenses bearing the NFL influence of their head coaches, Texas' Mack Brown decided to take the same approach.Yes, that Swiss Cheese defense headed by Robinson at Kansas City last year certainly was impressive. Apparently, there was so much complexity that nobody was any good at the simple task of tackling the guy with the ball."You can win it all with great defense," Brown said. "And you could see the NFL influence in both of those defenses."
Brown's hiring of former Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, who will co-lead the defense with Duane Akina but call all the plays, is the most significant shuffling of the coaching staff in Brown's six years at UT. Carl Reese, who resigned, is the first coordinator Brown has replaced.
Brown wants a defense that will stop the run, create turnovers, get more pressure on the quarterback and better disguise its pass coverage. Who doesn't?
Robinson, who wants to be a college head coach one day, says he will give that to Brown. He says the defense now being taught to UT players during spring practice, which began last Monday and ends with the Orange-White scrimmage April 3, will be a base 4-3. It will be heavy on zone blitzes – something Reese didn't use as much – and will blend man and zone pass coverage.
When asked to define his style as a defensive coordinator, Robinson turns Zen and says, "I would say there's complexity."
Robinson is adamant about fundamentals – knowing assignments, getting off blocks and making sure tackles. He demands that players play with a "controlled violence" that comes only from knowing exactly what one's responsibility is on every play.
"When it's all said and done, there will be no better tackling defense in the country than ours," Robinson said.
Until Mack can figure out how to beat Oklahoma and win the Big 12, one would think he would encourage his people to talk less and work harder. And he might want to study the defense that gives his team its annual @ss stomping in Dallas.
The Shorthorns are just too much.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/10/04 21:37 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)
A Little Good News
Friend Steve Casburn calls attention to this bit of good news about Houston:
The safest U.S. cities are Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California.It's hard to know exactly what to make of the study from that brief synopsis of the findings, but it's always good to be highly ranked at something other than obesity. :)
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/10/04 20:08 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)
How Long Till Football Season?
UH released its football schedule today.
The Coogs will apparently replace Arkansas State on Oklahoma's schedule on 11 September, and Arkansas State will take Houston's place on LSU's schedule.
That's all well and good for Houston in terms of exposure and paycheck, and it's an upgrade for OU's schedule, but the real problem on that schedule is Division I-AA Florida A&M. Oklahoma has not released its final schedule, so Joe Castiglione must still be trying to get rid of Florida A&M. I hope so.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/10/04 19:25 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (0)
09 March 2004
Slow Posting
My apologies if you had trouble getting to the site earlier. Apparently the datacenter was having some connectivity issues.
I took off to watch the baseball Coogs lose to Texas A&M this evening, unfortunately. It was a good effort against a ranked opponent, and the Coogs were scrappier than I've seen them all season, but they just couldn't quite get it done. And the umpiring crew was awful. I'm hoarse from my "participation" in the thing. There's this really old dude at the games who gets even more agitated than I do at bad calls. I figure if he can yell "ya bums" at them, then the least I can do is help out. :) Anyway, freshman Shea Hancock's debut as a starter was good enough to win him a shot as a weekend starter in my view. And it's cool to see these talented freshmen step up and take their place.
Oh, and on a brighter note, it's good to see that Chris Bell lost tonight (and it's even better that redistricting moved me from his district to John Culberson's). I actually thought Bell would win that race, which just goes to prove I should never predict what Dems are going to do. I guess he'll have to find something else to do now. Maybe he can write a book with Lee Pothole Brown, who became his buddy when Brown needed his endorsement to win his 2001 mayoral race, and Bell needed his endorsement to win his Congressional primary (too bad, because Carroll Robinson would have been a better choice at the time, and a better choice than Green or Bell now -- you silly Dems!). Bye bye Chris!
(Update) When I say the umpiring crew was horrible, this is one example of what I'm talking about:
In a typical Houston-Texas A&M athletic event that included controversy, the 12th-ranked Aggies fashioned a five-run eighth-inning rally with just two hits and held off the Cougars 8-7 on Tuesday night at Cougar Field in front of 2,988 fans.That's one of the biggest horsesh!t calls on a team's home field that I've ever seen made in college baseball. Da Bum also threw out UH's first base coach for arguing the call. It was horrible.First-base umpire Greg Oros told both head coaches he had made a mistake in calling a balk on A&M pitcher Jason Meyer in UH's ninth-inning at-bat and ruled the baserunner, who would have been awarded second, had to return to first.
"I thought he was coming home (with the pitch)," Oros told UH's Rayner Noble and Texas A&M's Mark Johnson after a "do-over" of the play.
Travis Tully, the UH runner ordered back to first, could have scored the tying run from second on Patrick Breen's single to right instead of halting at third, but the Cougars (5-10) went down in their ninth inning leaving runners at the corners.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/09/04 22:56 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)
NHTSA To Investigate Sudden Acceleration (Again)
Carol Parish, who had a sudden acceleration incident a while back that we commented on here, emailed earlier to notify me that the NHTSA is now investigating claims that severals makes of cars have mysteriously surged forward.
This is not surprising. Most people rarely admit they jammed on the accelerator instead of the brake by mistake, but my firm belief is that happens in all but the rarest of cases.
Mrs. Parish did not, however, forward this piece, which the crack staff at PubliusTX.net found all on its own:
Just weeks before the Christmas holidays, a incident in Kingwood claimed the life of a woman and seriously injured another.As I've said frequently, I think this is what happens in most of these cases.The accident, which occurred at the Soccer-4-All store on Rustic Woods Drive on Dec. 5, happened while the driver of a luxury automobile was attempting to park.
According to the driver, 59-year-old Kingwood resident Carol Parish, her 2001 Lexus LS 430 suddenly accelerated and jumped the curb, striking 45-year-old Deborah MacAfee who was walking in front of the automobile on the sidewalk. The car surged 80 feet forward through the storefront glass window, into the interior of the store before it stopped. MacAfee was killed and 74-year-old Louise Robinson Greaney was seriously injured. Greaney was standing near the cash register inside the store and was trapped beneath the car until she was rescued.
Parish, who expresses great remorse over the accident, maintains that while pulling into the tight parking slip, her Lexus, equipped with a powerful V8 engine, "shot off like a rocket."
"I know there will always be people who won't believe it, but I had my foot on the brake," said Parish. "Later, I remembered that it felt like the cruise control had kicked in."
Currently, the car is locked away in a warehouse awaiting inspection from Lexus, lawyers and several insurance companies.
According to John Cannon, Houston Police Department (HPD) spokesperson, though Parish was shown to be at fault, the District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal refused any charges.
"Instead of hitting the brake, it appears she hit the gas," said Cannon.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/09/04 22:43 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (2)
That's Mack
Dallas Morning News columnist Gerry Fraley is funny:
No peeking: Texas coach Mack Brown decided to close most of the spring football practice sessions to the ticket-buying, money-contributing public. Good idea. After the superb planning and on-the-fly adjustments made in the Holiday Bowl against Washington State, there's no telling how many coaches would sneak around Austin trying to steal Brown's secrets. Oklahoma's practices are open.Ha ha ha. Poor Mack. It's bad when columnists in your own state are ripping on you.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/09/04 08:07 | Big 12 Football | Technorati | Comments (0)
08 March 2004
Reminiscing About The John Blake Error
I'm happy for Nebraska that they're excited about their new football coach Bill Callahan (but why?) and his assistants. But this is stupid:
Somewhere between the chocolate pies and the nighttime chats about God and family and how his mama loved him so much she'd cook dinner no matter what time he got home, John Blake landed another one.
Sultan of schmooze. Lord of the living room. Blake had his critics, like any coach with a 4-8 record would, but man, could he recruit.
He sat down with Rocky Calmus in 1997, locked eyes with the strapping young linebacker from Jenks, Okla., and said something so crazy that half the state of Oklahoma would've wondered what was in the pie.
You will win a championship at Oklahoma.
Calmus was in. Blake was on, yet still hopelessly destined for No. 20.
For all his recruiting genius, this is where you will find John Blake on the list of career records for the 21 head coaches in Sooner history. Had it not been for John Harts coaching just one game in 1895, going 0-1 while teaching a class in elocution, Blake would've been listed as the least-successful coach in Oklahoma football history. No. 21.
But did they know about his promise to Rocky? How Blake sat in his own living room, three years later, watching the Sooners win the 2000 national championship with 18 of his recruits in the starting lineup?
"I just always wonder," Blake said, "what would've happened if I had a chance to finish what I started."
Blake was sitting in his office last week, easing into his new job at Nebraska, when somebody asked if he deserves another shot at a head coaching job.
He quickly changed the subject.
"I take nothing for granted," he said. "I am going to give every inch of effort and energy to do my part to turn this program into a national championship contender."
When Blake was hired as Nebraska's defensive line coach in January, it was all the buzz in Oklahoma.
Radio jocks chuckled and said good riddance to the man who changed offenses three times in 1998, his last season at OU. Internet junkies argued whether Blake fell into that ballyhooed recruiting class, wh